Size varies and there's no hard and fast definition of a high street law firm, but they're generally those small to medium size set-ups with fewer than five partners doing conveyancing, wills and probate, family, crime, personal injury, employment immigration and housing work.

The high street is where lawyers are facing major challenges. Apart from the economic downturn and the related fall in conveyancing work, they have had to cope with the opening up of the legal services market to brands such as the Co-op, Saga and the AA, as well as cuts to legal aid, the imminent referral fee ban and the cost of regulation and insurance.

Despite this high street firms account for around 50% of legal practices, and junior lawyers remain keen to work in them. However, getting a training contract in a high street firm is not easy. Camilla Graham Wood, has been qualified for a year and works at North London firm Birnberg Peirce & Partners: "The profession has already suffered cuts and more are to come in 2013, so it's not an easy time to consider a career in legal aid," she says. "Increasing pressures on legal aid firms mean that they are inclined to offer training contracts to those they consider a safe bet as they have already gained experience in the field."

Working as a paralegal, particularly in legal aid firms, is one way to increase you chances of getting a training contract, says Charlotte Image, associate at London firm Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors. .

Ryan Bradshaw, a second year trainee at north east firm Stephensons says: "You've got to be prepared to pay your dues. I sent over 100 applications for training contracts." After law school he was a chef for six months ,then worked as a paralegal at his current firm for nine months before being offered a training contract. "You could be stuck as a paralegal for three or four years before you get a training contract," he says. ''Take your time. You need to be sure it's the career you want before you saddle yourself with debt."

Graham Wood suggests that any sort of experience in a firm, even a short stint spent photocopying, clerking or working as a secretary, will give a valuable insight into whether or not legal aid is for you. She suggests considering doing a part time Legal Practice Course while working as a paralegal job, or taking the CILEX route, which takes longer than the traditional path, but is cheaper and means you don't have to do a training contract to qualify.

A training contract typically means four six-month seats in four different areas. Bradshaw's first seat was in conveyancing, which he says was very process driven, but his second was in employment, where he worked on the firm's Legal Services Commission telephone contract and ran his own files. "As a trainee in a high street firm, you get much greater client contact and responsibility," he says.

The hours may also be better than in city firms. "We work from about 9.30am to 6pm. Some days we work longer if there is work that needs to be done, but you are not expected to stay late," says Image. "All of my friends have gone to city firms and they can sometimes work from 8am to 2am and then back again at 8am the next day. I'd go crazy doing that."

Richard Teare, who has one year's post-qualification experience, doing personal injury work at Sheffield firm Simpsons Sissons Brooke, says: "The experience is there to take and comes thick and fast. My first week on the job was taking over 300 claims. I had a handover, and the case management system was explained, and then it was up to me. It was terrifying, but exactly what I wanted, as it threw me straight into the role I had trained for." He adds: "My clients range from foreign workers who speak little English, to sophisticated executives and everyone else in between."

Pay is one of the disadvantages of choosing the high street over a city law firm. "The reward of my job is not necessarily the money, but knowing that I am giving clients access to justice and providing a positive experience as a difficult time," says Teare. Bradshaw makes a similar point: "I got four As at A level and a 2:1 degree. I have friends who left school with no GCSEs who are earning more than I do," he says. "If money ie what you want, don't get into legal aid – you won't do it well and you'll just feel sorry for yourself."

So, you have to fund your studies yourself while racking up thousands of pounds of debt, it's hugely competitive and uncertain, and the financial rewards aren't great. Why on earth would anyone want to do it? "Job satisfaction is 110%," says Image. "I absolutely love what I do – you feel like you're helping people and making a positive difference to their lives."

Graham Wood says:"It is fulfilling because your colleagues are inspiring and committed to fighting for the rights of their clients in creative and innovative ways. Because you can't even imagine going through what your clients have been through, yet they are there with you throughout the case and fighting on. Because sometimes you win and that small victory can mean someone starts to rebuild their life again. And sometimes you might successfully challenge and expose injustice within government policy."

While some junior lawyers are worried about what lies ahead for the high street, Teare is optimistic: "In a market place that is in turmoil, it's a chance for the little people and entrepreneurs to rise to the top."

Gary Yantin, founder and managing director HighStreetLawyers, agrees. "People still require high street firms to exist," he says. "They are local, they know and care about the community in which they practice and they are trusted."